Johann: Atma thinks it's always the first sunday in June with is used to remind people at large to reflect on the goodness of ones father(s) and to use the day for honor and veneration. May all take this opputunity well and if still alive, of which is not for sure, still possible to personal approach, such is a blessing and not good if not used. Mudita

Johann: [continue] ...kāma-guṇa (sensual giving) , death, alive, increasing the cemeteries in the world. This is why just giving toward the virtuous, those with metta, bears fruits beyond the common, as it's not for further kāma-guṇa that they would use it for, but as base for lessons, for purificatio

Johann: If one would know or remembering the suffering behind pleasing form, sound, smell, taste, touch, one certain would no more desire after it. But because lof lack of remembering and proper attention, beings go after it, take birth, age, get sick, seperated, die, again and again, keeping the flame of k

Johann: If ones sacrifices, generosity, isn't protected by a good closed tank, less fruits can be expected. And what is the tank made of? Saddha, Pasada, metta, Sila, intention for own and others independency.

Johann: Nothing more a blessing as to do not cling to a specific Nikaya, since one can easy take the opportunity of doing theUposatha often two days a new. May all always make the best of given possibilities.

Depabhasadhamma: I am in need of assistance. I am writing a paper about the Three Marks of Existence. I understand the three marks, however, I am befuddled by the meaning and use of the word "existence." Is this English word the translation of the Pali word thiti? Does the word "existence" imply life, living, consci

Johann: Temporary ordination is pretty normal, 3 days, a month, a Vassa... and not to forget that the Buddha promised union with the Asparas, which are beyond being compareable to others...

2020 May 09 19:25:54

Moritz: No no, I really prefer to be a householder, even though not having a house at the moment. I am not much inclined towards nekkhamma... ... even though already doing some nekkhamma now, but not hoping to do so for the long term....

According to this answer , the Buddha neither rejected nor endorsed the practice.

Does the opinion of the different Buddhist schools differ from each other on this?

Venerable members of the Sangha,walking in front Fellows in leading the holly life.

In Respect of the Triple Gems, Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha, in Respect of the Elders of the community , my person tries to answer this question. Please, may all knowledgeable Venerables and Dhammika, out of compassion, correct my person, if something is not correct and fill also graps, if something is missing.

Valued Upasaka, Upasika, Aramika(inis),dear Readers and Visitors,

(This is a maybe modified and expanded answer of the "original" - which also could have been changed by third person - that can be found here . )

Homage to the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Rightly Self-awakened One.

Roben,

In regard to Robens question one by one, straight, defilement and doubts provoking and possible making nervous, for the gain of faith and encouragement to work on the base:

What are the hungry ghosts or hungry shades really? Could they be microorganisms?

A being ("mind") not capable to get even small satisfaction, even if food righ in front, not capable to take it. Not able to move from it's place, not able to trade. A famous Vietnamese Monks said once: "People who spend their times in Dhamma-centers without to grasp the Dhamma. Many being in the internet-realm have actually a mind like a hungry ghost. It's good to dedicate shares to them, if having once made merits befor they came in that state, they might be able to take.

Have any Buddhist scholars considered this possibility?

Scholars consider much. It's good to ask those knowing and seeing and with trust in the Noble Ones. If consdering, are scholars today not the most benefical provider for food for hungry ghost, thinking on the many new articels and consume of their work. They possible make much merits if knowing that and setting the mind to their ancestors and hungry ghosts.

Is offering of food to the dead still practised today?

Sure. Where ever there is still right view, where ever there is gratitude, where ever people know mother and father, where ever people know how seldom to gain a human life, where ever cause and effect, destinations of beings, taught by the Buddha, are known, there no one would eat before not having given a share to those before first. Yet it is also fast disapearing on earth at the same time, like right view, the Tripple Gems, prospering times...

Is this a recommended practice or is it not recommended?

The Buddha all wise recommended gifts to ancestors and spirits, recommend, and will recommend. So his, there good disciples, followers do.

And why?

Maker of gratitute. What ever you have been given, you might be able to use, is a sacrify of those having been here befor you and you might even have receive gifts at the time you have been a hungry ghost, had a mind like one, with patient and compassion, yourself.

In advanced for one self, esay to fall in that stat, even right next minute. Not having given, no support can be ever expected.

to be best respected and protected by spirits and ghosts

there are ghost and family members who can be very envy, disturbing and ill-willed, not getting a share.

According to this answer, the Buddha neither rejected nor endorsed the practice.

This answer is not right, uninformed and colored by modernism and faith in materialism rather into that of what the Buddha and wise recommend and all cultures and elders did till some years.

Even if intended to drive people to more refine merits, it misses the point to be in the mids of hungry ghosts and that there are less being who will even reach human life, having gained one for now, in the next, not to speak about capable for grasping the higher Dhamma, and for those having reached firm confidence, such small generousity and good sample for later generations is not a matter of defilements and stinginess.

Does the opinion of the different Buddhist schools differ from each other on this?

In regard of what can be said as old tradition, wiser, with practice: No. There is no school that can be called within the footsteps of Dhamma of the Buddha, with does not only recomment but also practice. They might differ in practice, rituals, folk explainings, focus, intensity, but not on the root: right view, gratitude and generosity.

The only "tradition" (with it's "monks" and lay peopke) that likes to make a better and wiser copy is modernism, secularism and scholar-hood, modern approaches, but they are not regarded as within the foot-steps of the Dhamma of the Buddha.

Some food for inspirations out of "Googlyana", some word written years ago:

Outside the walls they stand, & at crossroads.At door posts they stand, returning to their old homes.But when a meal with plentiful food & drink is served, no one remembers them:Such is the kamma of living beings.

Thus those who feel sympathy for their dead relativesgive timely donations of proper food & drink — exquisite, clean —[thinking:] "May this be for our relatives. May our relatives be happy!"

And those who have gathered there, the assembled shades of the relatives,with appreciation give their blessingfor the plentiful food & drink: "May our relatives live long because of whom we have gained [this gift]. We have been honored, and the donors are not without reward!"

For there [in their realm] there's no farming, no herding of cattle, no commerce, no trading with money.They live on what is given here, hungry shades whose time here is done.

As water raining on a hillflows down to the valley, even so does what is given here benefit the dead.As rivers full of waterfill the ocean full, even so does what is given here benefit the dead.

"He gave to me, she acted on my behalf, they were my relatives, companions, friends":Offerings should be given for the deadwhen one reflects thuson things done in the past.For no weeping, no sorrowing no other lamentation benefits the dead whose relatives persist in that way.But when this offering is given, well-placed in the Sangha,it works for their long-term benefitand they profit immediately.

In this way the proper duty to relatives has been shown, great honor has been done to the dead, and monks have been given strength:

"only a view human, when departing form human Existence, are reborn as humans, but many humans, when they departing from human existence, are reborn in hell, in an animal womb, in the realm of hungry shades (petas)

(Note: This is a gift of Dhamma, not meant to be used for commercial purpose or other wordily gains, not meant for making one a favor, but intended to liberation: so given to share without bounds to such tings)

my person just came across the booklet "Honouring the Departed: A Buddhist Perspective" with some very useful account so seldom taught by modern "Buddhists", althought Bhante Aggacitta - and maybe your whole community being either still very doubtful in regard of the heritage you use or simply uses it like many as a required trade philosophy (marketing strategy for big potential customer group) - has seemingly struggles to understand why giving into the Sangha is by nature of the Tripple Gems the most benefical help for ones beloved (since the longer alive, the more touches possible in the world, not to speak of the possibility to rejoice with such and act), it a very useful and most needed and seldom teaching.

If Bhante could ask his near Ven. Grandfather whether he likes to dedicate it toward the Sangha, maybe even as a dedication for his own ancestors, my person would "love" to join the merits and prepare it to give it to the Sangha of the eight direction and it's devoted fellows.

In regard of the doubts you Venerables might have with "foreign" tradition and teachings, while eager to grow into it, my person would always give and seek for ways to release those hindering doubts (at least also the spreading and ceasing of such, which is very harmfull for many). Maybe his generous work could be purified (and little cleaned up) in all regard as well in this way.

If Bhante isn't burdened to much, has good relation to his Ven. Grandfather, it would be good when he could forward the request.

At least it requires to receive personal that the owner has joy and agrees that taking on of his is welcome, to be take-able "in trust".

[As it possible help to gain faith: right while writting (starting to write, put an effort to ask) this, a "hungry ghost" (a {former} relative, not negative meant at all) wrote in the Shout box: "Visitor: May all beings be well. Thank you for this site." and thanked the generous donors, former near beloved, for their sacrifices he/she was/is able to receive, as it has been dedicated toward near departed as well while having placed the effort toward the Savaka Sangha of the Buddha.]